It’s clear that teams aren’t shying away from sluggers who have been suspended.
According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, the Mets (very, very briefly) inquired with the Brewers about Ryan Braun, who was suspended for the final 65 games of the 2013 season in an agreement with Major League Baseball following the Biogenesis investigation. The Brewers reportedly had no interest in discussing a deal involving the 2011 NL MVP.
The Mets reportedly had internal discussions about Braun before inquiring at the GM meetings in Orlando Fla., earlier this month. The inquiry wasn’t much, though. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told Heyman that the extent of him checking in on Braun was the sentence, “What’s up with Braun?”
In any event, it’s interesting that a team kicked the tires on Braun given the outfielder’s controversial nature. Then again, Jhonny Peralta‘s 50-game suspension in 2013 wasn’t enough to scare the Cardinals away from giving him a four-year, $53 million contract, and Braun is a far superior player.
While the Mets might not be all that interested in Braun, they are, according to Heyman, looking to add a power-hitting corner infielder. Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson reportedly are among their targets.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has made it clear this winter that he has no intention of trading Braun, who is a five-time All-Star and one of the most talented players in baseball, PED stuff aside.
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